Yoga i-D Blog

When life throws the unexpected at you, how do you respond? Life and death...

Well Life is presenting many things at many times. But I ask you to ask the universe for what you want. As alongside presenting you what you think that you don't want and that you definitely don't need thrown up, it gives back! IT GIVES BACK. And it answers your prayers. I promise you that. Call out to the universe and it will respond, in time.

"Every body has that chapter of darker, darker, days. Saturn keeps returning and its essence can't be changed. We plan our secret attack and the more you keep pushing, the more it's pushing you back." - Trevor Hall

You really can't rush your healing and darkness has its teachings. So take your time! Let time be nothing.

A beautiful teacher once said to me, it takes a while to arrive at the Island, even a lifetime. But what you can do is use that time as a wonderful gift.

Time - you are not running out, you are running in!

"Confusion clouds the heart, but it also points the way. Quieten down the mind, the more the song will play."

...sings Trevor hall. The concept of time is a wonderful one that we will explore this week and look at which way the heart is guiding us.

KALA

'Kala' Kaal or Kālá in sanskrit is a word used to mean time. The Tamil word kaalam refers to duration (an interval) in time. It also means a skilled craft, a performing art such as singing, dance, or drama, as well as being the name of a deity.

'Bhairava' originates from the word bhīru, which means "fearful". Bhairava means "terribly fearful form". It is also known as one who destroys fear or one who is beyond fear. The right interpretation is that he protects his devotees from dreadful enemies, greed, lust and anger. These enemies are dangerous as they never allow us to seek God within.

Bha means creation, ra means sustenance and va means destruction. Therefore, Bhairava is the one who creates, sustains and dissolves the three stages of life, he becomes the ultimate or the supreme.

Kala Bhairava is conceptualized as the Guru of the planetary deity, Shani (Saturn). Bhairava is a fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation,a wandering form of Lord Shiva. Kala Bhairava, who is the supreme ruler of time of this universe as per Hindu scriptures. Bhairavi is the consort of Kala Bhairava. Bhairava is also called upon as protector, as he guards the eight directions of the universe. Bhairava is also described as the protector of women. He is described as the protector of the timid and in general women who are timid in nature.

The idea that healing comes with time, that there is a concept around doing things at the right time/ wrong time,and that things come and go and suprise us when we least expect it, fascinates me. As I always, always, bring everything back to the Heart. Matters of the heart have no logic. Matters of the heart sing loudly and we often attempt to think of time and logic as going hand in hand and yet, they don't! Often in our own travels through life, the heart is guiding you. Take your time, as well as grab the bull by the horns and just go for it, whether time makes sense or not!

Through receiving a tragic phonecall a couple of nights ago regarding a family member now having had their life turned upside down and close to death, it's been a sad yet total reminder, again and again to trust the heart, to let time be no factor and to act as you will through your truth, through the heart. This becomes a dance of life, an art! It's time to face you, life, moment to moment, tell those that you love how much they mean to you each and every day. Tell yourself how incredible you are! And breathe the beauty of life in to your body. Let it radiate out from within and enjoy living!

[Poetry Interlude: Luka Lesson]Forgive everything that has ever happenedLife is everything we can imagineLaid out in patterns of pain and passionYou cannot control itSo keep your compassionThere are no accidentsThere are no factionsThere is no us or themNothing to borrow or lendNo enemy or friendAnd only forgiveness can make that happenThe only battle worth the fightFrom the Rwandan genocideTo the Seven Sisters forgiving Orion for how he chases them across the skies every nightForgiveness is for givingSo give yourself this gift from time to timeAnd let all of your mistakesBecome all of your greatest giftsIn disguise

In yoga, we observe our Samskaras. These are our subtle impressions of our past actions. Actions that we perform with full awareness are the ones that make the greatest impression on our mind. This is where intention applies, as it is that which gives power to the action. Sam means well planned/thought out, and kara means “the action under-taken.” Thus, “samskara” means “the impression of, the impact of, the action we perform with full awareness of its goals.”

When we repeat action, power is enhanced and this is where habit is formed.

The stronger the habit, the less mastery we have over our mind when we try to execute an action that is contrary to our habit patterns. We all have seen how our habit patterns subtly yet powerfully motivate our thoughts, speech, and actions. When our habit patterns become so ingrained that they alter our body chemistry, it is called “addiction." When they become strong enough to alter our thinking process, it is called “samskara.” At this stage we no longer remember when or how this process started. And without introspection or retentive power we fail to discover the realm of the mind where these samskaras are stored. When our mental world is totally under the influence of these powerful impressions they become the determining factors of our personality, and due to these samskaras we perceive this world in our habitual ways, says Yoga International. Now we have little choice but to see ourselves and the world in accordance with these potent impressions from our past deeds. Samskaras have the force of destiny. To those who lack self-trust and self-confidence, destiny cannot be altered. Samskaras are both good and not great, based on the action itself.

So quite naturally, lets explore Shiva, both consciousness and Lord of the Dance. Lets use time and observe time and find the annilation of fear and negative Samskaras! Our yoga this week will symbolise the dance of the universe, the fluctuating, changing, ups and downs, and whirlings of life.

If you wish to be free,Know you are the Self,The witness of all these,The heart of awareness. Set your body aside.Sit in your own awareness.You will at once be happy,Forever still, Forever free.You are everywhere,Forever free.If you think you are free, You are free.If you think you are bound, You are bound.Meditate on the Self.One without two,Exalted awareness. ~ Ashtavakra Gita 1.4–14, Translator: Thomas Byrom

I am here no longer a vision birthed into my bodyI accept praise, blame, joy, sorrowI realize we are in truth the truth we seek godPerfect this very moment

God Shiva (my love supreme) is imminent love and transcendent realityGod Shiva my supreme realitySo desire no more what you already possessYou are already freeYour divine nature is to loveMy soul identical to godOn a journey to return to my creatorTo a peace far beyond passionA state of blissGod Shiva is imminent love and transcendent reality(My love, how sweet the fruits of his love)God Shiva my supreme realityYou are my mind of the mindMy eye of eyeThe life of my lifeYou are my mind of the mindMy eye of eyeDo you my soul I have realizedFree me from this lifeGod Shiva is imminent love and transcendent realityGod Shiva my supreme realityYou are truthThe truth you seekBeyond truthThe truth youYou are in truthThe truth you seekFree me from this worldFree me from my bodyFree me from this worldMy supreme realityImminent loveIs imminent loveIs imminent loveTranscendent realityIs imminent loveMy supreme reality